Pitstop: Field closing on Whincup

Australian V8 Supercar defending champion, Jamie Whincup, is keen to get a good result this weekend at Phillip Island. He's had a disappointing time recently at Bathurst and the Gold Coast and needs to get his campaign back on track. Will Davison has closed the gap in the title fight to 32 points, and with 300 points up for grabs, the names at the top of the championship table could easily change come Sunday afternoon.

Motocross challenges

The third round of the Demon Energy New Zealand motocross championships leaps into action this weekend at Patetonga, near Morrinsville. Kiwi internationals Scott Columb and Michael Phillips are equal in points at the top of the MX2 class with one round to go. Former MX1 champion Daryl Hurley crashed out at the previous round which opens the door for Justin McDonald to maintain, if not extend, his lead in the 450cc class.

A1GP faltering

The A1GP Worldcup of Motorsport has crashed into another brick wall. After cancelling the season's opening round at Surfers Paradise in late October, the organisers have now announced the races in China and Malaysia will not take place. After five seasons, the A1GP has stumbled, lurched and ground to a halt and it's difficult to see it continuing as a global event.

Springs back in action

Western Springs Speedway's 80th season opens tonight and Auckland's Sprintcars are ready to dust each other up on the quarter-mile track. Twenty of the 800hp-plus big cars are headed by returning national champion Dean Brindle with eight-time NZ Sprintcar champ Alan Wakeling, former NZ champ and defending Western Springs track champion Carl Wilson, another former NZ champ Jamie McDonald, and fast rising star Ryan O'Connor. Racing starts at 6.45pm.

Role for Ron Dixon

Racing driver Scott Dixon's father, Ron, has been made a director of the Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida. Dixon will head up the raceway's participation in the Indy Lights Rookie Challenge and the raceway has credited him with inspiring the concept of the challenge, designed for aspiring drivers.